Senator Patty Murray’s Statement on the Nomination of Michael Chertoff as Secretary of Homeland Security

“In Washington state, we know all too well that our safety and economic security depends on continued vigilance in the face of terrorist threats.

As the nomination process moves forward I will be listening for Judge Chertoff to lay out specific plans for a real commitment to securing our inadequately protected seaports, the training and equipping of our first responders and increased security efforts at our Northern Border – issues at the heart of our security concerns in Washington state.

“For years, I’ve been working to establish a uniform security standard for all cargo entering our ports. We’ve made progress, but there is still much work to do and I hope that Judge Chertoff will join with me, early in his term, to move forward on this important effort to keep our ports safe.

“These are only a few of the security concerns facing Washington state and all Americans, and I hope that Judge Chertoff will lay out an aggressive plan to meet these challenges in the coming weeks.”